Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori on Friday signed the summary submitted by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah for the dissolution of the provincial assembly, a day before the completion of its five-year constitutional term.
Sindh Governor tweeted that the summary of dissolution of Sindh Provincial Assembly has been signed.
سندھ کی صوبائی اسمبلی تحلیل کرنے کی سمری پر دستخط کردئیے ہیں pic.twitter.com/okWxJJUEDD
— Kamran Tessori (@KamranTessoriPk) August 11, 2023
Following the dissolution of the PA, the Sindh Cabinet has also been dissolved, while Chief Minister Murad will remain in office until a caretaker successor is appointed.
Confirming the development, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab took to X — formerly known as Twitter — to say that the Sindh governor had dissolved the provincial assembly on the advice of the chief minister. Summary has been approved and notification will be issued soon.
I can confirm that Governor Sindh has dissolved the Provincial Assembly of #Sindh on the advice of Chief Minister Sindh. Summary has been approved & notification is being issued shortly
— Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui (@murtazawahab1) August 11, 2023
It should be noted that the first session of the Provincial Assembly was held on August 13, 2018 and its five-year constitutional term will end on August 12, 2023 (tomorrow).
“The Sindh Chief Minister has signed the summary of dissolution of the provincial assembly and has left for the Governor’s House,” according to official sources.
The consultation between the ruling party Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the opposition parties is going on for the appointment of caretaker chief minister.
Informed sources say that the ruling party of Sindh is considering to propose the name of Justice (r) Maqbool Baqir for the interim chief minister.
Earlier, the news of making Mumtaz Ali Shah caretaker chief executive also appeared in the media.
However, the opposition presented the names of Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui and Younis Dhaga for this seat. Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) and Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) discussed the name of Dr. Safdar Ali Abbasi during a consultative meeting.
How is interim chief minister appointed?
After the provincial assembly is dissolved, the government will need a caretaker setup, regardless of whether the governor approves the summary signed by the chief minister or not.
According to the constitution, the assembly will be dissolved within the next 48 hours, even if the governor does not approve it.
Unlike the practice in other countries, Pakistan’s constitution stipulates that the caretaker government must be sworn in until a new government is elected by the people.
Article 224 of the Constitution defines the process of appointment of caretaker government at the Center and the provinces.
Murad will continue his duties as Chief Minister for a few days till the formation of caretaker government.
Among all the elected representatives, it is only the current Sindh Assembly Speaker, Agha Siraj Durrani, who will remain in office until the newly elected legislators are sworn in and elect their replacements.
For the establishment of a caretaker government, Chief Minister Murad will write a letter to the leader of the opposition in the Sindh Assembly and ask for three names for the caretaker chief minister within 48 hours of the dissolution of the assembly and will suggest three names himself.
If an impasse between the two leaders continues for three days, the Speaker will form a six-member committee of the outgoing Assembly with equal representation from the Treasury and the opposition.
The Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition will send two candidates to the committee.
The committee will then have three days to reach consensus on a name. If this also fails, the names of the nominees will be sent to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for a final decision within two days.
The selected candidate will perform his duties as the interim chief minister till the formation of the new government in the province. He also has the power to include the caretaker chief executive in his cabinet.
The ECP is bound to hold general elections in the province within 90 days after the appointment of caretaker chief minister.
The electoral body can conduct the elections within 22 to 45 days as constitutionally at least 22 days are required to scrutinize the nomination papers of the candidates.
Candidates will be given 29 to 30 days to campaign.
President dissolved the National Assembly.
On August 9, President Dr. Arif Alvi approved the premature dissolution of the National Assembly immediately after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sent a summary.
An official statement issued by the office of the President said that the President dissolved the National Assembly on the advice of the Prime Minister under Article 58-1 of the Constitution.
Earlier today, the President reminded the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition to recommend a “suitable person” for the caretaker prime minister by August 12 (Saturday).
In a letter written to both Prime Minister Shehbaz and Riaz, the President told them that under Article 224A, they have to propose a name for the caretaker prime minister within three days of the dissolution of the National Assembly.
“As provided in Article 224 (1A) of the Constitution of Pakistan, the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in the outgoing National Assembly may recommend a suitable person for the appointment of caretaker Prime Minister after August 12”. In the letter, President Alvi…
Riyadh and Prime Minister Shehbaz held the first round of talks on the appointment a day ago. Both the PM’s office and Riaz had said that the second round of talks on the appointment would take place today.
“It has been decided that another round of consultation will take place tomorrow (Friday). No name will be revealed until the name is finalised,” the NA opposition leader told the media after his consultation on Thursday. Riaz, however, confirmed that he had shared the names of his candidates with the prime minister. Hope things get clear today.
The consultation between the prime minister and the opposition leader was to take place last night after the dissolution of the 15th National Assembly of Pakistan, President Alvi approved the summary sent by Prime Minister Shehbaz.
“The President dissolves the National Assembly on the advice of the Prime Minister under Article 58-1 of the Constitution,” read an official statement from the Office of the President on X, formerly known as Twitter, late Wednesday.
The appointment of the Caretaker Prime Minister will be done under Article 224-A of the Constitution, which will usher in a caretaker government to oversee the elections.
